Existence
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3.8 • 18 Ratings
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
OUR CONTINUED EXISTENCE WAS NEVER A GIVEN.
Year after year, humanity has survived the main pitfalls awaiting us - natural disasters, nuclear war, rising seas. But when an alien artefact is found floating in Earth's orbit, it pushes our troubled world to the brink of chaos.
Is this a message in a bottle bringing peace and enlightenment from the stars? Or a warning, threatening to destroy what little stability mankind has achieved? The world is divided - holding its breath. Soon we will know the secret of existence.
Brilliant and gripping, David Brin's novel of the near future is the work of a modern master of science fiction.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The discovery of alien artifacts pushes an already troubled Earth to the brink of chaos in bestseller Brin's exciting story of first contact. Gerald Livingston finds an alien "egg" while cleaning space garbage out of valuable satellite orbits. When word leaks to the press, speculation and fears abound. Change has already brought "Awfulday," when Washington, D.C., was hit by a dirty bomb, and an autism plague has created a generation that neurotypical people can't understand. As a self-styled antitechnology prophet, Tenskwatawa, calls for slowing down technological progress, the alien artifact is an unwelcome "Disturber," even as it promises to fix all Earth's problems with a catch, of course. Meanwhile, a second artifact recovered by a desperate Chinese fisherman warns against following other artifacts, suggesting these miniature Pandora's boxes have steered Earth's culture for some 9,000 years. Are the artifacts truly "worldstones," full of wonders and ingenious advice, or "demon-stones" that will only ruin the little stability to which humanity clings? Brin's thoughtful, multilayered story explores a first contact scenario where every twist reveals greater peril. His longtime fans will especially appreciate that this story could be read as a prequel to 1983's Startide Rising, while those not familiar with his work will find it an impressive introduction to one of SF's major talents.
Customer Reviews
Interesting
Enjoyed this up to the last two sections where I thought "is that it?"
Builds very slowly, but enjoyably, some nice concepts, thoughtfully delivered. But when the ending became apparent, the author carried on too long and didn't improve things.
Quite good. Glad I read it.